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Portland Fire Chief and Union President To Open MDA Fill the Boot Fundraiser

Event: Fill the Boot Kickoff Party

Date/Time: August 12, 2010, 10am-noon (ceremony approx. 10:30am)

Location: Kells Irish Restaurant, 112 Southwest 2nd Avenue, Portland

Portland Fire and Rescue (PF&R) Chief John Klum and Portland Firefighters Association (PFFA) President Jim Forquer will commemorate the start of Fill the Boot fundraising activities for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) on August 12th. Joined by the management of Kells, MDA officials, local MDA families directly affected by MD, and local off-duty firefighters, Chief Klum and President Forquer will place the ceremonial "First Dollar in the Boot" to kick off local firefighters' fundraising drive. Additionally, PFFA will present a $3000 donation from its Charitable Fund - money directly donated by Portland firefighters.

This is an opportunity to demonstrate the commitment by local families, businesses, fire officials, and firefighters' unions in supporting MDA and their important missions of helping those with muscular dystrophy and related diseases.

This year, all of the major metro-area fire department unions are coordinating Fill the Boot efforts, and will be holding events throughout the region from August 12-14 (see below for details). Portland, Gresham, Clackamas, Hillsboro, Vancouver, Tualatin Valley, and Scappoose firefighters raised a combined total of over $105,000 in 2009 Fill the Boot efforts, and seek to exceed that amount in 2010.

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) has been a major contributor to MDA for over 50 years through its annual "Fill the Boot" event. There are hundreds of local families in all fire districts receiving support from the MDA. The money donated to our Fill the Boot effort is dedicated to our local chapter of the MDA. This chapter helps provide assistance for medical care expenses, specialized equipment, and other costs including MDA Camp, and local support groups. Additionally, many local firefighters serve as counselors at MDA Camp.